KATHMANDU: American rapper Nicki Minaj was reportedly detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on suspicion of possessing soft drugs, before being released with a fine, as reported by Dutch media on Saturday. Minaj, who was scheduled to perform in Britain later that day, shared images on social media of her being questioned by officials.
Authorities confirmed that a 41-year-old American woman was detained, but they did not verify whether it was Minaj, adhering to their usual policy of not disclosing the identity of individuals in custody. The military police spokesman, Robert Kapel, stated that the woman was suspected of attempting to export soft drugs to another country and had been released after paying a "reasonable" fine.
Minaj claimed on social media that authorities found cannabis in her luggage, which she attributed to her security personnel. Despite popular belief, marijuana is not legal in the Netherlands, although it is widely tolerated, especially in Amsterdam's renowned coffee shops. While the consumption of small amounts of cannabis is technically illegal, enforcement is often lenient under a tolerance policy established in the 1970s.
Transporting drugs to another country remains illegal, prompting Minaj's detention. The rapper was set to perform in Manchester as part of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, but the concert was postponed following the incident. The hashtag #FREENICKI trended on social media, reflecting fans' support for Minaj amidst the ordeal.
Live Nation, the concert promoter, announced that the Manchester performance would be rescheduled, and previously purchased tickets would be honored. Expressing disappointment over the inconvenience caused by the postponement, Live Nation emphasized Minaj's efforts to make the show happen despite the day's events.
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